BDRMM Kwentuhan: Brgy 350, District III, Manila

                                                        ✧✧✧✧✧

November 28, 2019  — On this day, I got the chance to interview Kagawad Zenaida “Zeny” Consignado for the fulfillment of my Module 4 in NSTP, which is this. The visit wasn’t planned, actually. I didn’t have a letter with me. I was only grabbing on to my school bag, with a phone recorder on my left hand and a crumpled piece of paper on my right where the set of guide questions where printed. At first, I was hesitant. I initially went to Barangay Hall 349 because I couldn’t find a landmark on our hall based on what Google wants me to see. In the end, I saw the signage under a shady tree and I admit. The place wasn’t so nice and it isn’t what I really expected. Nevertheless, I knocked and people gladly welcomed us. Not long after that, Kagawad Zeny joyfully obliged to be our interviewee for this session.

                                                         ✧✧✧✧✧ 

First, I asked her questions on hazard identification. According to her, it’s usually the heavy downpour of rain, but it’s not big of a deal around the area except in the street where the Brgy. Hall is located. Felix Huertas St. is usually the only street affected, serving as a catch basin of flood with water coming from the roads around SM City San Lazaro, Winford Hotel and Casino, Vertex One, and condominiums Avida Towers San Lazaro and Celadon Park Residences.

Hazard Identification

With these big establishments around the area, roads are usually maintained properly. In case of earthquakes, each building has its own plan of action when the disaster strikes. Kagawad Zeny emphasized that because of this, no major problems have reached the barangay lately. Typhoons come and go except of course, for the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Luzon area last April 22 of the same year. As for that, it was really felt by the people and appropriate safety measures were carried out to instill security for all the residents around the barangay. For the rainfall, television and social media news play a big role in informing the community about this natural calamity. 

Vulnerability, Elements, and People at Risk

As previously mentioned, only small streets are affected, which are rare in Barangay 250. People are mostly living in high rise condos and town houses. Poor housing is not a risk factor that can worsen the scenario when a disaster strikes. The only vulnerable are the few ones who own littlenjunk shops or car wash stations within the vicinity. Some electric posts and cables are disorganized but other than that, nothing would pretty much be greatly affected. 

In case the big one or some great disaster strikes, safe spaces include the open basketball court in my home, where the Avida community conducts most earthquake and fire drills, and vast, open, vacant lot behind the barangay hall:

I also captured the hazardous places/issues in my barangay during the community walk:

Overall, two things hinder the further development of the community when it comes to DRRM: the national government and the undisciplined citizens. During the interview, Kagawad Zeny told us about the situation of the local government, particularly the problems being faced by our own barangay. She did not elaborate on the issue why the higher ups demolished their container van, hence the location of the barangay hall today but she certainly was not happy. They are trying to rebuild the broken pieces but she said that sometimes, there are really a handful of citizens who can’t seem to discipline themselves enough and can’t follow these simple rules:

Capacity and Disaster Management

Though I didn’t get the opportunity to receive any BDRRM plan, hazard and safety map, and barangay projects, I was told about the seminars and trainings that the officials and other volunteers undergo for preparation in the instance a disaster strikes Barangay 350. In the Avida community, we have activities like these:

We are also proud of our lifestyle practices:

And when the disaster strikes right now, we have:

In addition, there is vegetable garden at the back of the barangay hall where they usually get some food to serve on the table. It might be useful when disaster strikes and food shortage/supply coming from the market comes in the picture. I took photos of the papaya and malunggay tree:

In general, the programs and plans somehow remain unclear. The truth is, from what I have observed, my barangay is complacent about DRRM. Although we can see the preparation from the pictures taken, no concrete system was presented to us. Nevertheless, Kagawad Zeny ensured us that since we are a “not-so-poor” barangay, everything will be all right as long as we all work together as both organizers and members of the community.